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MMA

28th Dec 2016

Miesha Tate thinks Ronda Rousey shouldn’t get an exception on media demands

This situation has never happened before.

Tom Victor

Ronda Rousey is due to make her long-awaited comeback to UFC action on Friday, not that you would know from her media presence.

The upcoming bantamweight title fight against Amanda Nunes will be the first fight for ‘Rowdy’ since she lost her belt – and her unbeaten career record – to Holly Holm in November 2015.

But the American has not been required to do the same level of media work in the lead-up to the fight as others before her – with a small video cameo representing a rare public appearance before she finally showed up towards the end of the second episode of UFC Embedded.

There were rumblings of double standards after it was announced that Rousey would not be required to fulfil the same level of media obligations demanded of headliners such as Conor McGregor before her, and former bantamweight champ Miesha Tate isn’t on board with this approach.

UFC 205: Weigh-insRousey will look to reclaim her title when she takes on Amanda Nunes (photo credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Tate, who has lost twice to Rousey in Strikeforce and UFC title bouts but claimed the UFC title after defeating Holm at UFC 196, told Fox Sports 1 show ‘Undisputed’ she sympathises with her rival but still doesn’t agree with the situation.

“It’s fight week, but you have to do it, there’s never been any exceptions,” Tate said, as transcribed by MMA Fighting.

“I think this is a huge fight and I think both of them should be doing the media, being accessible a little bit to the fans.”

Rousey’s title fight against current incumbent Amanda Nunes will headline the main UFC 207 card, with the fight taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada on December 30.